New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-11
POPULAR ANXIETY LESSENED.
CHICAGO HEAvEs A SIGH OF RELIEF.
EXCITEMENT CHECKED BY THE GOVERNORS Ac-
TIoN-THE TWO CoMMUTATIoNs BELIEVED

EXCITEMENT CHECKED BY THE GOVERNORS AZ
TIoN-THE TWO CoMMUTAuoNs BELIEVED
TO BE IN THE LINE OF JUSTICE.
CHICAGO, Nov 10.-It was half past
s when the news of the Governors
action reached the city through official
channels and fully an hour later when the fact
twas made known in the street The dispatch from
TIE Governor was delivered to the Sheriff at the
Jail by the manager of the Western Union Tee-
graph Company, and simply stated that the
sentences of Fielden and Schwab were cOmmuted
to Imprisonment for life, and that the other four
must stand. When the intelligence reached the
public it was accepted with sigh Of relief, and
almost instantaneOusly checked the increasing
excitement. 1t was substantially what almost
every one expected, and the two combinations
believed to he in the line of justice Ihrsonss
bOmbastic exclamation of Liberty or Death" had
lccn answered to evcrybodys satisfaction. There
were very few indeed outside of Anarchstic
limits who really desired commutation in his
case. lie is regarded as an unevenly balanced
man intellectually, who has conceived the idea
that he possessed the hand of skilfu writer,
and he is looked upon more martyr to his
vanity tan TO that of any real or sale advocacy
OF the Of the oppressed. Apart from Spies
he is the most condemned in public Judgment.
A native American. he is regarded enemy
10 tlc llDcTdl laws OF MS OWN Country, tNHlcdi,
vitupcratye and violent in his speech, much of
the responsibility for the great tragedy is imposed
uron him by public opinion. He has cvnccd no
sense Of rcmorse, but has remained defiant :and
his proclamations issued from his cell have in
creased the feeling of original disgust for him.
Ills remark to-day on hearing of the act of Iingg
manifested sign Of contrtiOn but rather Of
applause. Throughout he has clothed himself with
sort of mawlSsk sentimental cloak which. to
intelligent minds has been most rcpulsive. In
fact. both Spies and Parsons are looked upon
Johnny IIcads-in-ar inflated with the idea that
they leaders in a great social cause and
hence especially dangerous because Of heir COM
Lincd weakness and strength in their allotted
spheres. Engel and Fischer only spoken OF
aS tools Of their leaders equally responsible before
the law. but not entitled to other sympathy than
that naturally bestowed upon all misguided cul-
prits
The decision Of the Governor is likewise meas
urcd in the light Of mild rcbulIc TO those ELUSIVE
scntimcntalists from afar who have caused them
selves to bc developed in the proceedings. notably
William Dean IIOwcls, whose literary appeal has
fallen more than fiat not only upon the ears Of
the Governor, but those of the public. The latter
was received with snccr and a sympathetic
smile for its author.
MISS VAN ZANDT's LAST FAREWELL
It late in the evening when admission 10
the Jail was allowed TO representatives of other
than local papers.
Miss Van Iandt promptly on the scene and
was permitted 10 receive her condemned lover in
her arms in the jacrs Office The meeting Of
the two was marked by most pitful exhibition
Of grief on the part of the deluded girl Her last
hope had departed and the courage which she
had so long sustained crushed at last. She
threw herself into the arms OF Spies and wept
Historically, and at last quickly taken in
hand by the deputies in charge. who separated
them leading the condemned man back TO
his cell and another showing the sorrow-striclSen
would-bc wife to the outer door of the prison.
The last hope OF Parsons was buried late this
afternoon by n refusal on the part of Judge Tulcy
10 grant writ Of habcas corpus Attorney Salo-
mon argued his plea on the ground that the judg-
mcnt affirmed by the SupcriOr Court
was against seven men, not against
one that the prisoners not being in court when
the sentence passed, could not be executed
under it; that the death warrant was illegal
because il did not run in the name Of the people
Of the State of Illinois. These questions Mr.
Salomon argued at length, and Mcssrs. Grinnell
and Walker opposed. The Court said he had no
power authority TO correct the errors Of the
Supreme Court that the prisoner was in custody
legally and that the Shcriff's process if process
il might be called, was legal. The issuance of the
writ under the circumstances, the Judge said
would be abuse. Mr.. Solomon said he would
at once inform the sheriff that il he executed Par
sons ct al he would be held responsible for the act.